brakedwell, info on the Dart DC-3 for you.
civil aviation | sir henry | henry royce | 1951 | 1294 | Flight Archive
B.E.A.'S TURBOPROP FREIGHTERS
WITHIN the next few weeks B.E.A. hope to take delivery of their second and final Dart-Dakota freighter. These aircraft are to be put into service on the Corporation's shorter Continental routes as the freight potential within the confines of the United Kingdom is not likely to provide enough traffic.
The Corporation's primary object in introducing the Dart-Dakotas is not to make money with them; they are intended to provide experience in operating the Dart turboprop prior to the delivery of Viscounts, and also to give crews a certain degree of familiarization with the power units. The two Dart-powered freighters are not re-engined Pionairs but normal Dakota conversions, all of the work having been undertaken by Rolls-Royce at Hucknall. They are named Sir Henry Royce and Claude Johnson (the latter name commemorates the man who was Sir Henry Royce's partner in the early days). The power units, Dart 504s rated at 1,400 h.p. (with a 365 lb static thrust) are as nearly as possible identical with the engines to be used in the Viscounts. The only modifications made were those required in order to accommodate the Dart nacelles in the Dakota's wing.
An extensive article located here
1952 | 3204 | Flight Archive